Carrie Underwood followed up her victory on “American Idol” with a multi-platinum selling album, “Some Hearts,” and a hit single, “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” We caught up with the country-pop princess as she was revving up for her summer concert tour to hear her thoughts on fame – the latest round of “Idol” contestants.

NYP: What’s next for you?

FW: “My summer is going to be jam packed with the upcoming tour. I will be appearing on many festival bills as well as on a bill with Kenny Chesney. And to top it all off, I might have a little something to do after the festivals and Chesney tour are over! You’ll just have to wait and see!”

Are you watching “American Idol” this season?

“I catch the show as much as I can, but I do miss some weeks.” Who is your favorite contender?

Why?

“I don’t think I can choose a favorite right now, but I’m definitely paying a lot of attention to the guys!”

Do you have a crush on Ace, like every other girl?

“Ace is definitely a pretty boy, but in meeting him, I learned that he also seems very nice, which is refreshing. As far as having a crush on him, I can’t really admit to that because I have a boyfriend!”

Do you ever miss getting critiqued by Simon?

“I do miss things about the show, but being dissed by Simon is not one of them!”

If you had to do “Idol” all over again, what would you do differently?

“I really don’t think I would change a thing. Even the mistakes I made, I learned from so I guess you could say that they were worth it.”

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned since “AI”?

“It all takes very hard work. I learned that on the show and after when I began working on the album and on the tour.”

Do you wish Barry Manilow or Stevie Wonder, who have appeared on the show so far this season, would have coached you last season?

“It would’ve been cool considering I am a huge admirer of both. I think people like that have so much to teach, and I could’ve learned a lot if they had coached me.”

What piece of advice would you give the winner of this season’s “American Idol”?

“Don’t take anything for granted and be willing to work your behind off to make ‘it’ happen!”

What is the most important thing in your life? What keeps you grounded?

“The most important thing to me is the people that I keep close like my family and my friends. I see my animals as much as I can as they are very important to me as well. It’s good to keep things like that around because it gives you a true sense of who you are…not who everyone else wants you to be.”